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Poplar Bluff Attorney is New Library Foundation and Development Director

Published February 21, 2012

Valerie G. Richardson, a Poplar Bluff attorney, is the new Foundation and Development Director of the Springfield-Greene County Library Foundation. She joined the library district Feb. 13. She can be reached at valerier@thelibrary.org.

Most recently Valerie has been operating a solo law practice in Poplar Bluff as an attorney/business adviser. Before that she was the practice administrator of Eye Surgery Consultants in Poplar Bluff, and prior to that she was fund development and communications director for the Girl Scouts – Cotton Boll Area Council in Poplar Bluff.

She has also practiced law for Poplar Bluff and St. Louis law firms, and has vast experience in grant writing and advising individuals and businesses in financial planning and estate planning.

Valerie has a strong volunteer background, not only as a hand during projects but as a professional with boards of directors and governance. She has extensive fundraising experience including a successful, $500,000 campaign for the Girl Scouts service center and a $4.6 million campaign to restore a historic downtown Poplar Bluff theater.

On her decision to leave the solo practice, Valerie explained, “I have a real passion for the not-for-profit sector in that I just really love fundraising. I like to give people an opportunity to give back to things that they love. A lot of people in Springfield have a great passion for the Library – they love the Library – which will make my job easy.”

Why nonprofits? “When I get up in the morning, I want to go someplace where I feel I’m making a difference,” she said. “You do that as an attorney, but you get bogged down with the problems in the job. (Nonprofits have been) the most meaningful part of my life and career, and I want to make that my life now.”

About her goals: “I think that one of my goals is going to be to make the Foundation very visible in the community, so when people are thinking about contributing to an organization or leaving a legacy or making a difference in their community, the Library Foundation is one of the first things they think of.”

Kathleen O'Dell is community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at kathleeno@thelibrary.org.